A WINTER STORM WARNING will be in effect tonight through Friday Afternoon, Local Meteorologist Rich Townsend told WCDO News what the storm is expected to do:

(Rich Townsend 2-24-22)

The Winter Storm Warning remains in effect through Friday at 4:00 PM. Governor Hochul directed State agencies to prepare emergency response assets in advance of the winter storm system.

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Governor Hochul Announced the availability of $65 Million in Federal Emergency Home Heating Aid. Income qualifying households that have exhausted the available regular HEAP benefit and the first emergency benefit may now apply for a second round of assistance, provided they are facing either a heating utility shutoff, or an electric utility service disconnection that will impact their primary heating equipment. More information is available at otda.ny.gov.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies observed an SUV on Friday February 18th traveling 80 MPH in a 55 MPH zone on State Highway 17 in the Town of Hancock. Deputies stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as 19-year-old Albierys Connor of New York City. Further investigation revealed that Connor’s NY driver’s license had been previously suspended in the Bronx, Connor was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the 3rd Degree and operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle. Connor was released with an appearance ticket, returnable to the Town of Hancock Court at a later date.

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Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies observed a vehicle traveling on State Hwy 206 in the Town of Colchester on February 13th, with an expired inspection sticker. Deputies stopped the vehicle, they learned that the operator, Dustin Howe, had his driving privileges suspended for failing to answer previous summonses. Howe was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Unlicensed Operator, Uninspected & Unregistered Motor Vehicle and Obstructed License Plate, Howe was released on Traffic Tickets, and is scheduled to appear in the Town of Colchester Court at a later date to answer for the charges.

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The Broome County Health Department reports that the number of COVID-19 cases has decreased in the past month. The Health Department reported that in 1 months time, active cases went from 1421 to 313 currently, and hospitalizations from the virus decreased from just over 1100 to 72 on Wednesday.

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The Musical version of “AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN” hits the stage tonight for the 2nd of 2 performances at the Forum Theater in Binghamton. Show Time is 7:30 tonight, tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

A.M. NEWS Thursday 2-24-22

2 of the owners of The Colonial in Binghamton have been arrested by Binghamton Police after an investigation that began in November. Yaron Kweller has been charged with 3rd degree Rape and Jordan Rindgen for criminal sale of a controlled substance. Binghamton Police expect another arrest in this case shortly, Kweller and Ringden were arraigned in Binghamton City Court and released.

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The City of Norwich DRI Local Planning Committee will hold An informational session for an Open Call for Project Proposals, virtually tonight at 6:00 PM. Projects submitted under this Open Call will be reviewed by the Norwich DRI Local Planning Committee to be considered for inclusion in the Norwich Strategic Investment Plan. Commerce Chenango CEO & President Kerri Green explains:

(Kerri Green 2-24-22)

Green said that the Projects submitted must be capital projects that can be implemented quickly and will transform the physical environment of downtown Norwich, more information is available at NorwichDRI.com. The ZOOM Link for Tonight’s meeting can be found on the WCDO Facebook page.

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The Chenango County Health Department confirmed 7 additional COVID 19 deaths from the period covering January 13th to February 10th. Chenango County has amended their statistics & now report 109 COVID deaths since the pandemic began. Chenango County health Department announced COVID vaccine clinics on Friday March 4th, with a Pfizer 1st dose Clinic for 5 years and Older from 3:00 to 5:00 PM & also on March 4th, a Pfizer Vaccine Only Booster Clinic for 12 Years and Older, also from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the old Label Shopper store in the South Plaza in Norwich. More information is available at co.chenango.ny.us/public-health.

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A New Sienna College Poll reports that 58% of New Yorkers Polled believe that the state should wait until early March before deciding whether to lift the school mask mandate, compared to 30% who say the school mask mandate should have ended already, and 10% who want to see it end after this week’s school break. On New York’s indoor public mask mandate 45% say that the mandate should still be in place, compared to 31% who say it should have ended already and 20% who say it ended at the right time. Also in the New Poll, 60% say crime is a very serious problem, 31% said it’s somewhat serious. By a 65-27% margin, voters say ‘the bail reform law should be amended to give judges more discretion regarding bail.

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State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli today released a report showing that New York’s environment and sustainability initiatives are creating new green occupations, as well as creating additional demand for existing occupations and changing the skills required to fulfill others. In total, these occupations made up over 17% of all jobs in the state pre-pandemic. He urged the state to fund more educational and workforce development programs to grow the green economy and help bolster New York’s pandemic recovery. DiNapoli’s report found that the number of jobs influenced by the green economy in New York exceeded one million in 2019 and 2020. The report can be found at osc.state.ny.us.

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The Musical version of “AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN” hits the stage tonight for the 1st of 2 performances at the Forum Theater in Binghamton, Tina Niles of NAC Entertainment comments:

(Tina Niles 2-23-22)

Show Times will be at 7:30 tonight & Tomorrow Night, tickets are available at the Box Office or through ticketmaster.com.

A.M. NEWS WEDNESDAY 2-23-22

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the creation of a Joint Security Operations Center in Brooklyn that will serve as the nerve center for joint local, state and federal cyber efforts. The Center Will Serve as a 1st-of-its-Kind Hub for Data Sharing and Cyber Coordination Across the State, New York City, the 5 Major Upstate Cities, plus Local and Regional Governments and Federal Partners.

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State DEC announced that the 2021 hunting seasons in New York were the safest ever, with the lowest number of hunting-related shooting incidents since record-keeping began. DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers investigated nine hunting-related shooting incidents in 2021, including 1 fatality. 7 of the 9 incidents in 2021 were two-party firearm incidents; two incidents were self-inflicted. All identified shooters were experienced hunters with an average of 40 years of hunting experience, All incidents could have been prevented if those involved followed hunting safety rules.